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Wicked Local Burlington
LETTER: A student’s vote for Ken Gordon

Long before I set foot in the Massachusetts State House as a legislative intern this summer, I knew the name and face of the man I’d be working with. Politics were on the periphery of my life, but this elected official was not— I already knew Rep. Ken Gordon, D-Bedford, to be a part of his district’s fabric, to be a visible leader that everyone could look up to. As early as my middle school graduation, I could see that Gordon embodied the democratic spirit of working from and for his constituents. His frequent appearances and participation at school and town events cemented his place in my mind as a politician whose first priority was not his party or his politics, but his people and their well-being. Massachusetts’s strength in our challenging economic and social landscape stems from the tireless efforts of officials like Gordon to put their constituents’ needs first.

And indeed, how tireless his efforts are. During my tenure in his office, the representative would have me and my fellow interns research a wide range of issues faced by communities all around Massachusetts, from the recent opioid scourge, to higher education access programs, as well as anticipating future challenges, like the integration of driverless cars into existing infrastructure, all to stay up to date on problems facing Massachusetts residents. No matter how diverse the issues were, however, Gordon would always tackle them from his district’s perspective, developing unique solutions and resources to help ensure that the 21st Middlesex district was ready to meet the bevy of challenges facing Massachusetts communities today.

In a time of uncertainty and political gridlock in Washington, D.C., officials like Gordon helped revive this apathetic student’s faith in the effectiveness of civic institutions. I never worked for Gordon— I worked with him, because his work ethic is one of fostering inclusive, co-operative solutions to problems that affect a wide range of people. His is an M.O. of civil service in the truest sense of the term, and American democracy is all the better for it.

— Pranav Menon, Burlington High School, Class of 2014

Wicked Local BurlingtonLETTER: Ken Gordon is a ‘shining light’ seniors

As a senior citizen, I am most interested and concerned about the race for State Representative. Ken Gordon has been a shining light for us seniors – he meets with us at the senior center or at True North every month to listen to our concerns and to explain his vision for Burlington. He not only does this at election time, he has done it every month for four years. Issues that affect seniors every day: Traffic: Ken worked to get $800,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help eliminate the traffic congestion at the intersection of Route 3 and Route 95. Access to Public Transportation: Ken has worked closely with the Middlesex 3 coalition which has been bringing shuttle bus service to our businesses for their employees. Once enough of these shuttles are on the road the plan is to make them available to residents, including seniors. This will be a big help to those of us who do not drive. Senior Housing: Ken arranged a forum on the issue of senior housing, bringing in several speakers to discuss this ever-growing need in our town. He fought for and will continue to fight to get state funds for programs that will help seniors stay in their homes avoiding the expense of nursing homes or assisted-living facilities.

Council on Aging: The COA funding was increased by about $50,000 this year. Ken worked to get this done for us. We all know that our senior center can use some updating and Ken will continue to work for State funding for this purpose.

What I really like most about Ken is that he is readily available to take telephone calls, to listen to us seniors and to offer solutions to our issues. He may not have all the answers but he’ll get them and return our calls.

I am urging all seniors and those who have not yet become seniors to join with me to re-elect Ken Gordon as our State Representative.

There are two kinds of legislators on Beacon Hill. Some show up just to talk, some to act. Some wave their fist in righteous indignation as opportunities pass them by; others sit down with colleagues, discuss their differences and get things done.

In my four years in the Legislature I have focused on solving problems rather than making speeches about them. I have listened to your concerns, and addressed them. That is why I enter the coming election season with the momentum of accomplishment. In the past two years, they include the following:

BURLINGTON – Representative Ken Gordon (D-Bedford), whose district represents Burlington, secured funding for the Middlesex 3 Coalition to administer a shuttle to transport employees from Lowell to retail and restaurant jobs in Bedford and Burlington as a part of the House’s Economic Development Bill.

In recent years, the number of restaurants servicing the residents and businesses of Bedford and Burlington has flourished, due in part to the influx of new companies with impressive workforces…

Last Friday, the day the news of the horrific sniper attack in Dallas woke us from our sleep, I joined Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian and Burlington’s assistant police chief Tom Duffy at the graduation of the Sheriff Department’s Youth Public Safety Academy.

Some 50 excited elementary school-aged children, half from Burlington, completed a one-week program that introduced them to the members of the sheriff’s department and the police and fire departments of their town…

June 12, 2016After convening a forum involving engineers from MassDOT to discuss the traffic in December, Rep. Gordon joined with Senator Ken Donnelly and convinced Secretary Stephanie Pollack to include traffic improvements to the intersection of Routes 128 and 3 in a federal highway project. Work will begin by the end of the year…

Woburn Daily Times Story

June 8, 2016

THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION recently approved a set of short-term improvements to the interchange of Interstate 95/Route 128 and Route 3 at Exit 32, which will result in a re-striping and widening of small strips of Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) land along the highway. The improvements will create dedicated lanes with the use of signage, lane striping, and lane barriers. State Senator Ken Donnelly (l) and Representative Ken Gordon (r), both of whom represent Burlington in their districts, championed the efforts by bringing the proposal to MassDOT engineers last December when they hosted a forum on the traffic issues facing Burlington drivers…

Rep. Ken Gordon to host charity event, senior forum

June 23, 2016The Skate for the 22 Foundation and State Rep. Ken Gordon will join in a charity ice hockey game against the New England Eagles Veterans’ Hockey Club to raise awareness about the struggles veterans face when returning home at 7 p.m. May 13 at Ristuccia Memorial Arena, 190 Main St., Wilmington.

Students Proudly Walk the Runway Thanks to Rep. Ken Gordon

June 3, 2016On Tuesday May 31 the State House filled with young artists and fashion designers! I was delighted to see students who work so hard all year honored with a show that highlighted their hard work and properly showed what public school education is producing and was spectacular…

Rep. Gordon’s Paid Family & Medical Leave Bill One Step Closer To Law

May 23, 2016BOSTON, MA — Rep. Ken Gordon’s efforts to bring paid family and medical leave to workers and small business throughout the Commonwealth took a big step forward last week when his bill passed with unanimous approval from the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development…

U.S. Secretary of Labor Met With Rep. Ken Gordon on Paid Family Leave Bill

May 2, 2016A proposed Massachusetts House bill that will help new parents spend more time with their children was the focus of a meeting that featured a member of President Obama’s cabinet.

Representative Ken Gordon, the sponsor of the House bill to bring paid family and medical leave to all workers in Massachusetts, was joined U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, Co-Chairman of the Joint Committee Labor and Workforce Development John Scibak (D-South Hadley), and Senate Co-Sponsor Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) at Cambridge startup Tamr to discuss the issues surrounding the proposed program, a release from Gordon’s office states…

Dec. 30, 2015THERE WAS A FULL HOUSE at Town Hall recently for State Rep. Ken Gordon’s special “Rappin’ with the Rep” show where a public information session was held with Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) engineers to discuss the four plans they provided Rep. Gordon on behalf of the town last summer to revise the exit and entrance ramps that connect Route 3 to I-95/Route 128. This was the first time MassDOT officials were able to explain the designs to the public, in addition to providing a platform for resident to ask questions…

Muslims hold interfaith event to ‘re-tag’ Burlington mosque

Nov. 4, 2015For the fourth time in five years, Munir Gandevia and the Islamic Center of Burlington were left reeling after another incident of vandalism, each one of them larger in scale than the last. Early Sunday morning members found an entire wall of the mosque covered with eggs and red spray-paint that read “USA.”

This Just In: Rep. Gordon Delivers Important News that MassDOT Salt Shed is No Longer in Bedford’s Future

January 26, 2105

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has abandoned its plan to relocate its existing Crosby Drive salt shed to the cloverleaf at the intersection of Routes 3 and 62, according to a letter from Thomas J. Tinlin, Massachusetts Department of Transportation Chief of Highway Operations and Maintenance, that State Rep. Ken Gordon delivered to Chairman Margot Fleischman at the Selectmen’s 6 pm meeting on Monday, January 26, 2015.